A GRAND MASTER AT A GRAND PRICE
Without fail, every morning when I go get my newspaper, I see 80-year old artist, Humberto Martinez, drawing his often-surreal sketches using a fine-point black Bic pen at the Café Alameda across the street from the Alameda Santa Maria la Ribera. He has to get up early because this is how he makes his living, and this is what he does all day long – draw and drink espressos.
I find Martinez’ work most fascinating because it is filled with with fine zigzag lines. And at 80-years old he does this without glasses too. Martinez’ work reminds me of the late Mexican artist, Martin Ramirez. Ramirez was a Mexican immigrant who spent more than 30 years in California psychiatric hospitals making art few people valued, like this artist Humberto Martinez. Though Martinez is not crazy I think his work is not valued either, evident by the people who seem to not even notice him draw nor give him any attention.
Note the rose drawing – I bought it.Though I have always said hello to Martinez, today we spoke – this is how I found out he was 80-years old. Martinez also said that he has been drawing for the last 70 years and that he was really a painter, but he prefers using this medium. Most probably because of the environment he finds himself in – cafés.
I purchased a rose drawing roughly the size of 8” x 7”. Martinez only wanted $50.00 pesos for his rose drawing which is like $3.65 US dollars. Though I wanted to give him more he wouldn’t accept it, so I bought his coffee.
This is closeup detail of a small portion of the drawing.
Great post. I will have to pay this cafe a visit sometime and meet Senor Humberto in person!